Game On Dude wins record third Big ’Cap at Santa Anita Park

Mike Smith and Game on Dude win the 9th Santa Anita Handicap $750,000 race during the Big Cap Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz/Pasadena Star-News)

ARCADIA — Game On Dude’s demise has been greatly exaggerated.

The 7-year-old gelding, after flopping in two consecutive Breeders’ Cup Classics and finishing fifth as the 2-5 favorite in the San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 8, silenced his doubters Saturday with a 1 3/4-length gate-to-wire victory in the $750,000 Grade I Big ’Cap at Santa Anita Park.

An on-track crowd of 27,121 witnessed the fastest Big ’Cap in its 77 runnings after Game On Dude negotiated the 1 1/4 miles in 1:58.17. Affirmed held the previous record of 1:58.60 set in 1979.

It was the son of Awesome Again’s record third victory in Santa Anita’s signature race and he did it in typical Game On Dude fashion – running his seven foes, including 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man and 3-year-old champion Will Take Charge, off their feet.

“It was very emotional watching him come down the last 100 yards,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I was just in awe of the horse. I’m glad that he finally got to show his stuff. For some reason the Breeders’ Cup just hasn’t gone his way. Today, when he gets in that groove, nobody can beat him.”

There was no beating Game On Dude on this day. He won for the 16th time in 31 starts, including 8 of 11 at Santa Anita, and hiked his career bankroll to $6,163,893. Sent postward as the third choice at 7-2, it was the first time in 16 races he wasn’t favored. Eight times during that period he’d closed at less than even money.

Mike Smith guided Game On Dude through rapid fractions of 22.91, 45.39 and 1:09.39, leading by two lengths down the backside, until Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge rallied up on the outside as the horses approached the quarter pole.

“This is where the serious running started,” Baffert said while watching a replay of the race with the media. “I was a little bit worried when those horses came to him and I heard Jill (Baffert’s wife) give out a sigh, but then ... I think Mike gave him a breather when those horses came to him.”

When it was time to go, Smith opened up again around the turn for home. Mucho Macho Man, who finished fourth as the 6-5 favorite, was the first to give it up at the head of the stretch. Will Take Charge, eight lengths clear of Blingo for second, closed willingly through the lane but could never come within a length of the winner.

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“(Smith) made a really bold move and you could tell the Dude was not going to give it up today,” Baffert said.

Part owner Bernie Schiappa said it was an emotional day for him.

“I didn’t want it to be his last race,” he said.

But Game On Dude showed a nation Saturday he’s got plenty left in the tank.

“His last race (San Antonio), I didn’t really do a lot with him,” Baffert said. “He’s 7 years old now. The older they get, I can’t be as hard on him as I used to be so we watch him very carefully.

“This horse is like part of the family.”

Baffert is as superstitious as they come. He doesn’t like owners and friends to say they’ll see him in the winner’s circle before the race and he cringes when his horses get overly hyped. That wasn’t the case this past week as most of the attention was on Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge.

“It was nice coming in under the radar,” he said. “Last year we were the heavy favorite and this year we had those two heavyweight fighters come in here.”

Smith said he knew Game On Dude was ready to run a big race.

“I knew it from the post parade when we turned around to go to the gate,” he said. “He was on his toes today, he was on fire. He’s like that when he runs well. Bob told me to trust him, that I would have a different horse this time.

“He had him 110 percent today and when it comes to Bob, that’s who you want to be riding for on big days.”

Schiappa couldn’t agree more.

“If you have a problem with electricity, call an electrician,” he said. “If you want to win a horse race, you call Bob Baffert.”

It was Baffert’s fifth Big ’Cap victory, including four of the past five, and the second for Smith, who won aboard Game On Dude last year when he won by a record 7 3/4 lengths.